Name three potential causes of a white pupil in baby?
A red-reflex check is part of every newborn’s exam. There are numerous reasons why the reflex may look dull, or even white. All of the potential causes need to be worked up by an ophthalmologist quickly, for both visual potential and potentially life-threatening reasons:
You should be aware of these:
- Congenital cataract
- Retinoblastoma
- Retinal detachment
- Retinopathy of Prematurity
Others include:
- PHPV (persistant hypertrophy of the primary vitreous)
- Coats disease
Of all of these, a congenital cataract is the least worrisome. Even so, that cataract needs to come out soon as to avoid deprivational amblyopia which develops after only a few months.
Hi Tim,
I have a question…As Ophthalmologist would you prescribe a contact lenses to your 3yr old px?
jI haave a friend who has white pupils. She is 65. She worked at a bank 20 years ago. She could see then. I would like to encourage her to seek help but she tells me that there is nothing that can be done.Should I give up??Her relative told me that he remembers her wearing very thick glasses.
Valerie, your friend may have very bad cataracts. If that is the ONLY problem, then cataract surgery can help.
If, on the other hand, she has other eye issues such as retinal detachment or dystrophy, then cataract surgery won’t make a difference in vision. Just make sure your friend has seen an eye doctor.